Moving to Guatemala from California
What to Expect
Considering a move from California to Guatemala? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from California to Guatemala, you would find that Guatemala is 44.7% cheaper than California. A $75,000 salary in California would need to be roughly GTQ322,264 in Guatemala to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between California and Guatemala.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → GTQ322,264
To maintain the same standard of living in Guatemala
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 59.6% less
Groceries
pay 27.7% less
Transportation
pay 41.2% less
Housing
pay 61.2% less
Childcare
pay 83.2% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 48.4% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from California to Guatemala.
Who's moving to Guatemala?
Top countries of origin for Guatemala's foreign-born residents.
- 20,683
- 18,872
-
3.9,299
United States
- 9,211
- 9,023
- 1,921
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Guatemala compared to California.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Guatemala performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
California performs better than Guatemala across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
California generally does better on employment & economy, though Guatemala leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
California performs better than Guatemala across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Sacramento | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 60°/41°F (15°/5°C) | 77°/55°F (25°/13°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/51°F (26°/11°C) | 80°/61°F (27°/16°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 90°/57°F (32°/14°C) | 76°/60°F (25°/16°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 65°/44°F (18°/7°C) | 74°/58°F (24°/14°C) |
View all months
| Month | Sacramento | Guatemala City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54°/39°F (12.1°/3.8°C) | 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.5°C) |
| Feb | 60°/41°F (15.7°/5.2°C) | 77°/55°F (25.2°/12.9°C) |
| Mar | 65°/44°F (18.4°/6.7°C) | 80°/57°F (26.6°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 71°/46°F (21.7°/7.9°C) | 82°/60°F (27.5°/15.4°C) |
| May | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.6°C) | 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.2°C) |
| Jun | 87°/56°F (30.6°/13.2°C) | 78°/61°F (25.3°/16.2°C) |
| Jul | 92°/58°F (33.4°/14.7°C) | 76°/60°F (24.5°/15.8°C) |
| Aug | 91°/58°F (32.9°/14.4°C) | 77°/60°F (25.0°/15.8°C) |
| Sep | 87°/56°F (30.7°/13.2°C) | 76°/60°F (24.4°/15.8°C) |
| Oct | 78°/50°F (25.3°/10.1°C) | 75°/60°F (24.1°/15.4°C) |
| Nov | 64°/43°F (17.7°/6.0°C) | 74°/57°F (23.4°/14.0°C) |
| Dec | 54°/38°F (12.2°/3.6°C) | 74°/56°F (23.4°/13.1°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
Instituto Nacional de Sismología, Vulcanología, Meteorología e Hidrología (INSIVUMEH)
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Guatemala. To live, work, or study long-term in Guatemala, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Guatemala's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Guatemala
Visa Free
Guatemala passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Guatemala than California?
On average Guatemala is about 44% less expensive than California, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Guatemala?
Budget about GTQ80,566 for 3 months in Guatemala (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Guatemala?
From major Guatemala cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in California and Guatemala are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Guatemala compared to California?
Guatemala performs significantly better than California across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Guatemala compared to California?
The average high temperature in Guatemala City is 77°F, compared to 74°F in Sacramento. Guatemala City receives around 46.7 in of rainfall per year, while Sacramento gets 18.5 in.
What language do they speak in Guatemala?
The official language in Guatemala is Spanish. In California, the official language is English.
